When Jeremy arrived home from school that day, he asked his parents for $70 to buy a well for a village. Three times he begged them for the money. Finally they told him that he could do extra chores around the house to earn the money. It took Jeremy about four months to earn the $70. Unfortunately he discovered that it would take closer to $2,000 to provide the well. A not-for-profit ministry that drilled wells became impressed with Jeremy’s mission and determination. Jeremy became a spokesperson for the ministry. Because of his determination and with his help, hundreds of wells have been drilled providing clean water to the villages.

People on a mission have accomplished tremendous things. Age, wealth, talent, or intellect were of no consequence to them. People on a mission are convinced of the need, are courageous, and completely committed to the cause.

Over 2,000 years ago, God’s only begotten son came to this earth on a mission. It was a mission of love. He came to give His life as a ransom for us – we who were doomed by sin to die and be lost eternally. Christ was born to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16).

Only Jesus really understood His mission. During His ministry, Jesus often spoke of hard to grasp paradoxes: He was both kind and suffering servant; He was both the healer and wounded one; He was both the everlasting God and the crucified outcast. Jesus told His disciples that He must suffer, be killed and rise from the dead to provide redemption, salvation, and eternal life for those who would believe. (See Matthew 16:21-22.)

Peter tried to dissuade Him. In the wilderness temptation Satan tried to turn Jesus aside from His mission by offering Him pleasure popularity, and power. Jesus would not please Himself. He would not be turned aside from His mission. Luke wrote, “As the time approached for Him to be taken back up into heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

Jesus knew what He must endure to accomplish His mission. The Old Testament predictions about the crucifixion of Christ are numerous. Take time to read some of them, such as: Isaiah 53; Psalm 49:1; Zechariah 11:12; Psalm 35:11; Psalm 22:7, 16, 18; Isaiah 50:6; Psalm 109:4; Psalm 34L20. These prophecies were given many centuries before crucifixion was a known means of torture and execution.

Jesus was born to die – so that we could be born again to new life. “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus, who is both the Son of God and the Son of Man, was in battle with a human desire we all face to avoid pain, to hold onto life, to win against death.

Singer, songwriter, and author Michael Card describes it this way in his book A Violent Grace, “Until Gethsemane Jesus’ life has been one continual yes to the Father. And that doesn’t change this night in the garden. The only begotten Son is on a mission of love – a mission that He affirmed in that first assault in the desert – and the Father’s desire is for Jesus to finish the work He has been sent to do.

Where does Jesus find the strength to overcome? I find the answer in seven perfect words, ‘Not my will, but thine be done.’ When you think about it, every temptation we face gets its power from our desire to say yes to ourselves – to our own rights, wants, and needs and no to God.”

Friend, how can you accomplish your life’s mission? Say, “Yes”, to Jesus and the Heavenly Father’s will. Be convinced, courageous, and completely committed.

Jesus came on a mission from heaven to give us freedom and liberty form sin and death. Will you open your heart to receive these costly gifts from a loving Savior? Christ is just a prayer away. He is dying to know you.

“For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

God has a mission for you. Will you accept it? (See Ephesians 2:10.)